The Congolese community in Cyprus is set to hold a memorial march in Larnaca on Saturday, June 6, in memory of Christian Ndjondo, a 46-year-old man who tragically died during a police immigration raid.
The march will commence at 4.30pm from Larnaca’s Municipal Park and proceed to the location where Ndjondo fell from a third-floor balcony. Organisers have emphasised that the gathering will be peaceful and have invited all communities in Cyprus to join in the tribute. “In memory of Christian Ndjondo, let us walk together in peace and dignity,” they stated.
Ndjondo passed away on May 27 after sustaining severe head injuries during the raid conducted by the Civil Registry and Migration Department (CRMD). Reports indicate that he fell from the Filanta apartment complex, located near Larnaca’s old port. During the same operation, two other individuals also fell from a lower balcony but only suffered minor injuries. A total of twenty-two people were arrested during the raid.
Larnaca Police Chief Ioannis Kapnoulas addressed the incident, stating that the risks associated with the operation had been carefully evaluated, although he acknowledged that unpredictability was an inherent aspect of such actions. He confirmed that no internal disciplinary investigation would follow the incident, as the circumstances surrounding Ndjondo’s death are being reviewed through the standard judicial procedures for unnatural deaths.
In response to the tragedy, two civil society organisations, Generation for Change CY and Far Right Watch Cyprus, have called for an independent inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to Ndjondo’s death. They have drawn parallels to a previous incident in April 2024, where Anisur Rahman, a 24-year-old Bangladeshi national, died after falling from a fifth-floor apartment in Limassol during a police raid.
A vigil for Ndjondo took place at the Filanta building on the evening of May 28, demonstrating the community’s grief and solidarity. The upcoming march is intended to honour his memory, support his family, and highlight the demand for truth and justice.
